1000 Bonjour’s and Smiles along the way

The idea to post a picture a day … does not really work out.

This is what my day looks like. I wake up whenever I wake up – no alarms. I get my coffee, read a bit and use an Application called “Komot” to plan my journey for the day and download it to the Navi. In reality this does not always work out as it should and I ended up quite a few times on Gravel roads through the fields, my heart pounding anticipating wild dogs at the next remote old farm building. Nothing happened so far.

I head off after a French breakfast and cycle around 8 hours. By the time I reach my B&B or Hotel for the night I am usually totally exhausted and all I can think off is a shower, an ice-cold beer and a huge Salad and Ice cream for desert. Food never tastes as good as after physical exercise – heavenly…

If asked what struck me lost the last days, I think it is the unbelievable friendliness of people. In the little villages, in the fields, just everywhere, the amount of cheerful “Bonjour’s “, Smiles or “Bon courage’s” I get is uncountable and it truly lifts my spirit even higher. I wonder why does this happen? Because I radiate happiness? (I really do, I am as happy as Larry), because of my “Fondation Cancer” T-Shirt and people just get the message and can relate to it, because of my pilgrimage scallop shell on the back of my pannier or because (and this my IT colleagues will love) the French are just really nice people and a nation of cyclists. Probably a bit of all. One last thing before I head off for the day. Yesterday I had stopped in front of a little house in a tiny village and checked the map. Two ladies came along and asked if I need help. It was burning hot yesterday and I was on my last drop of water, so asked them if they could please refill my water bottle. She did not just refill it, she gave me a complete big bottle of ice cold water to take along for free. Wonderful.